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Website7_Uploads-Graphics4  FEN DJ 1952

This line drawing (almost a doodle) represents those who worked behind the scenes at AFVN. (Artist unknown)

[Received from Paul Kasper in July 2016.]

 ​Website7_Uploads-Graphics2  workers4

AFVN FivePanel

​AFVN-11Saigon

Table of Contents

​​  1.           AFVN Timeline and History

                 1-1.      AFVN Timeline (Narrative & Graph)
                 1-2.     
Narrative History of AFVN
                 1-3.     
A Short History of Television in Vietnam by Billy Williams, SP4, USA (1971-72)
                 1-4.     
Partial History of AFVN  Author unknown
                 1-5.     
AFVN Fact Sheet -- 1962 to 1968  Received from Randall Moody

                 1-6.      AFVN Fact Sheet  (Actually a history and timeline of AFVN extending from 1962 through 1972.)

                             NOTE:  This is a very good narrative review with timeline showing the history of AFVN.  If any of you who were with AFVN 

                             from  early 1972 through the closing of the station could write me some of the things you remember happening, I will

                             consolidate them as necessary and add them to this file. Webmaster

                 1-7.      AFVN Policies as of April/May 1970  Possibly prepared in reaction to the Censorship Controversy?

                 1-8.      History of the American Forces Vietnam Network 1962-1972  by Lee W. Hauser
                 1-9.     
How Many People Served with AFVN?

               1-10.      AFVN Sports, Outline as of November 19, 1971  

               1-11.      AFVN TV - Scope of, and TV and FM Program Schedules for July 1971

               1-12.      AFVN Radio - Scope of, and Radio and TV Program Schedules, Undated 

               1-13.      AFVN Mission Statement dated February 1, 1971. 

                              Includes an Organization Chart with names and a clear copy of a map of AFVN facilities as well as at the end of the

                              attachment there is a single page from another document writen at about the same time showing the Chain of

                              Command structure from the Secretary of Defense down to AFVN. 
               1-14.      AFVN Manpower Surve
y as of September 10, 1971  (Divided due to size.)   Part 1     Part 2     Part 3     AFVN Reply/Rebuttal

               1-15.      All the News that's Fit to Air by Rick Fredericksen.  A review of the censorship controversy at AFVN in late

                                       1969 and early 1970.

                              Published in "Vietnam Magazine" (December 2013).  Click here for information on ordering the magazine. [Thanks to

                              Vietnam Magazine for permission to post this story on the AFVN website.]  There are several AFVN audio clips related 

                             to this controversy as well as some emailed comments related to Rick's article.  Click here.
              
1-16.      AFVN Censorship, Correspondence Related to, Dated August 22, 1970 (the last three pages are somewhat difficult to read)

               1-17.      Article from "The Observer" for July 6, 1963 about AFRS when it was still less than a year old. It includes the names and has

                              photos of 10 of the 14 people who were working at the station at that time.  The individual pictures are also in a short slide

                              show under AFVN Organization / Main (Key) Station, Saigon.  Click here.
               1-18.     
The Military and the Media, 1968-1973 by William Hammond, published by the US Army Center of Military History.  Note: 

                              This is a rather large PDF file so loading it may take a little time.  The story of the AFVN Censorship controversy starts on

                              page 208.   To go to it "reasonably quickly," enter "239" in the space to the right of the word "Page" near the top of the

                              window and then press the enter key.  If you are at the cover page, this area will display "Page 1 of 681."  The difference

                              between "page 208" and "239" is due to the first 21 pages of the PDF being devoted to the cover, preface, index and so on. 

                             [Link submitted by Mike McNally.]

               1-19.      "How the GI's Don't Learn about the War", an article from the New York Times by Robert Hodierne dated April 12, 1970.

                              It is a discussion about "censorship" of the mass media in Vietnam.  The top part is a JPG of the clipping while the bottom

                              section is a retyped and easier to read version of the text.

               1-20.      Army SP4 Bob Lawrence Claimed AFVN News was Censored posted by Robert Morecook.  Includes some comments

                              by Cpl Tom Sinkovitz, USMC. 

               1-21.      Bob Lawrence's text and the aftermath--from a message from Jim Allingham. 

               1-22.      Memories and comments about the beginning of the draw-down of AFVN  by SFC Ron Turner, USA, NCOIC, Engineering. 

               1-23.      After-Action Report on the draw-down and closing of AFVN dated March 23, 1972.

               1-24.      "Vietnam was the first war ever fought without any censorship.  Without censorship, things can get terribly

                              confused in the public mind."  

                              Attributed to General William Westmoreland but not confirmed.  [From a February 16, 2014 message from David Pinto.]
                1-25.     Television for the Troops:  The First TV Network Built in a War Zone - The American Forces Vietnam Network

                              by Richard Wirth (SP5, USA, 1970)  Link received from Doug Jennings via Facebook on March 19, 2015.

  2.           Other Reasons for AFVN   (Hanoi Hannah and Nguyen Van Tung)

                2-1.       Interview with Hanoi Hannah by Don North and Ken Watkins

                2-2.       Comments by Mike Roberts - 1

                2-3.       Comments by Tom Walles

                2-4.       Comments by Jim Maciolek

                2-5.       Comments by Lt. Cmdr Ray Voden

                2-6.       Comments by Gerry Clark

                2-7.       Comments by George Hart

                2-8.       Comments by Mike Roberts - 2

                2-9.       Interview with Nguyen Van Tung by Don North

              2-10.       Radio Hanoi More Recently

              2-11.       More on Hanoi Hannah and Thu Houng

              2-12.       Don North - Biography

              2-13.       Hanoi Hannah - Audio Clips

              2-14.       Nashua, NH clipping for November 17, 1966 announcing that Chris Noel is America's answer to Hanoi Hannah

                              It also includes an article about "Saigon's PX Alley" (Black market area) being cleared of goods.  

              2-15.       Hanoi Hannah dies on October 4, 2016 at the age of 87      Newsweek and Dhaka (India) Tribune articles on the same topic.

              2-16.       The Mystery of Hanoi Hannah by Don North  New York Times February 11, 2018

              2-17.      Hanoi Hannah and Don North  A Commentary about the Validity of Don North's Comments.

              2-18.      Photos and Commentary on Facebook by Paul Blizzard 
  3.          Clippings Related to AFVN

                              NBC to Help Set Up Four Viet TV Stations  (From the "Record American," Boston, July 6, 1966. Submitted by 

                                          Rick Fredericksen)

                              AFRT Schedule  (Date and Station Unknown)

                              AFRT [AFVN] TV Schedule for August 22, 1968   (Most likely from the Stars & Stripes)

                              AFVN TV Schedule for  August 23, 1969  (From the Stars & Stripes.  Posted on Facebook by Jim Allingham, March 2019.  

                              The View from Saigon -- AFVN Coverage of the 1968 Presidential Election  (From the "Saigon Daily News," November 8, 1968)​

  4.           Reminiscences and Stories (Email Messages)

                4-1.       Larry Green, SP5, USA (1968-1970)
                4-2.      
Joe Ciokon, JOCM, USN (Ret'd), (1968) - 1
                4-3.      
Paul Bottoms, SP4, USA (1968-1970) - 1
                4-4.      
Joe Ciokon, JOCM, USN (Ret'd) (1968) - 2
                4-5.      
Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, AF (1966-1968) - 1
                4-6.      
Joe Ciokon, JOCM, USN (Ret'd), (1968 - 3
                4-7.      
Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, AF, (1966-1968) - 2
                4-8.      
Jack A. Holsomback, GySgt. USMC (1966-1967)
                4-9.      
Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, USAF (1966-1968) - 3
              4-10.      
Paul Bottoms, SP4, USA (1968-1970) - 2
              4-11.      
Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, AF (1966-1968) -4
              4-12.      
David O'Connor, SP5, USA (Retd') (1966-1967)
              4-13.      
Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, AF, (1966-1968) - 5
              4-14.      
David Gale, SP5, USA, (1968-1969)
        
      4-15.       Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, AF (1966-1968) - 6

              4-16.       Betty Anne Horning (Addy)
              4-17.      
Forrest Brandt, 1Lt, USA (1968-1969) - 1
              4-18.      
Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, AF (1966-1968) - 7
   
           4-19.       Joe Ciokon, JOCM, USN (Ret'd), (1968) - 4

              4-20.       Preston Cluff, SSGT, USA, (1967-71) - 1
              4-21.      
Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, AF (1966-1968) - 8
              4-22.      
Preston Cluff, SSGT, USA (1967-71) - 2
              4-23.      
Ken Kalish, GMG3, USN (1968-1969)
              4-24.      
Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, AF (1966-1968) - 9
              4-25.      
Dick Ellis, SP5, USA (1967-1968) - 1
              4-26.      
Roger Ashworth, SGT, USA (1969-1970) - 1
              4-27.      
Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, AF, (1966-1968) - 10
              4-28.      
Dick Ellis, SP5, USA (1967-1968) - 2
              4-29.      
Jim Allingham, SP5, USA (1969-1970) - 1
              4-30.      
Gary Brill, SP5, USA (1969-1970)
              4-31.      
Author Unknown  (Most likely 1968)
              4-32.      
Roger Ashworth, SGT, USA (1969-1970) - 2
              4-33.      
Cal LaMartiniere, TSgt, AF (1966-1968) - 11
              4-34.      
Billy Williams, SP4, USA (1971-1972) - 1
              4-35.      
Billy Williams, SP4, USA (1971-1972) - 2
              4-36.      
West G. Miller, MSgt, USMC (1966-1968)
              4-37.       
Jim Allingham, SP5, USA (1969-1970) - 2
              4-38.      
Thomas Deaner, SP5, USA (1968-1969)
              4-39.      
Forest Brandt, 1Lt (1st Div IO, 1968-1969) - 2

                                        Rockin' and Rolln' Through War
 5.    For more AFVN History, see
Photos and Stories 

 6.         Listener Surveys
                6-1      The 1968 Audience Opinion Survey
                6-2.     The 1970 Audience Opinion Survey
                6-3.     The 1971 Audience Survey
  7.         
AFVN Newsletters
                 Includes most of the AFVN Newsletters from 1969 and one from 1972.
  8.        
Article from Leatherneck Magazine, April 1970
  9.        
Walling BEQ Resident List and MACV SO for Separate rations

               These are together because they were fairly close in time. 

10.         Do You Remember these Telephone Numbers?
11.        
Broadcast Audition Script  Submitted by Randy Kafka (JOSN, USN), March 2013.
12.         Music of the Era

                12-1.      Top 100 Songs during the Vietnam Era by Year  (Click on the year to go to that specific year.)
                                               
1962       1963       1964       1965       1966      1967      1968
                                               
1969       1970       1971       1972       1973      1974      1975
                                                To complement the above as well to be able to hear a great number of popular songs arranged

                                                           by year and covering the period 1960 through 2013 go to The Nostalgia Machine.

[Link received from Dick Ellis.]

                12-2.      AFVN Playlists   (Received from Ken Kalish)

                               12-2-2.   Article from Stars and Stripes on AFVN Top 40 Lists  [Received from Marc Yablonka]
                12-3.     
Thesis on Music in Vietnam

                12-4.      35 Songs about the Vietnam Era  (From Your Stories, Your Wall)

​                12-5.      The Weird and Obsessive World of Songs About Vietnam  (From undertheradar.mlitary.com)
13.          13-1.       
Bombing of the Brink Hotel​​
14.         Intelligence Reports Related to TET, 1968

                14-1.     
Intelligence Information Cable (May 16, 1967)
                14-2.    
Telephone Conversation with Saigon (CIA) Station  (January 31, 1968)

                                         Received from Mike McNally.  He wrote:  "Attached is a PDF copy of a memo dated 31 Jan 1968.  It was sent by

                                         the CIA's Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs (SAVA) to Walt Rostow, Special Assistant to Presiden Johnson. 

                                         CIA Headquarters had been in contact with [the] Saigon Station for an update on the situation in Vietnam. 

                                         The sender's name is redacted but it was possibly George A. Carver, Jr., who was the SAVA for CIA Director

                                          Richard Helms. 
                14-3.    
The Situation in South Vietnam, No. 5  (January 31, 1968)

                14-4.     All Hands Read   Undated but most likely written around TET 1968.  It alerts everyone to the danger of a

                                        possible attack and what precautions everyone should take. 
15.         The End of AFVN and The American Radio Service, Vietnam
                15-1.     
The Last Goodbye by Chuck Neil
                15-2.     
"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" by Chuck Neil
                15-3.     
Additional Information about the closing of AFVN by Bob Morecook

                15-4.      Getting out of Saigon by Ron Yates.  Although Ron Yates was not connected with AFVN, this link gives a good description of

                                        his getting out of Saigon on April 30th, 1975.
                15-5.     
Getting out of Saigon - A log covering the period from April 15 through April 29, 1975, written by an Air American pilot.

                                        Received from Mike McNally.  He included the following comments:  One of the locations mentioned is "259." This was

                                        259 Truong Quoc Dung Street, the site of the USAID apartments.  Today the building has been remodeled into a hotel.

                                        On Google Earth, it shows as the Movenpick.  I've attached a Google Earth screenshot showing the Movenpick.   Also

                                        mentioned in this account is "Steve's restaurant." I think this refers to a restaurant on Nguyen Minh Chieu, just a short

                                        distance from "259" on the north side of Cach Mang.  I think today Nguyen Minh Chieu is called Nguyen Trong Tuyen.

                15-6.      Bitter Memories: The Fall of Saigon - by Tom Glenn, Signals Intelligence Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. 

                15-7.      Fall of Saigon (A Narrative) - From Facebook, Author Unknown  

                15-8.      American Forces Thailand Network's "White Christmas Moment" by Suzanne Ritter

                15-9.      "White Christmas" - Fact or Fiction?  A February 2013 AFVN Group Discussion on whether or not "White Christmas" was

                                        actually played as the signal to evacuate Saigon.

                15-10.     AFVN Signs Off and ARS Starts Broadcasting (Short Facebook summary by Bruce Eaton, AFRTS Alumni Site, March 2019)

                15-11.     Last Airplane Over South Vietnam

                15-12.     Basic Pay, E4 in 1969   (Received from Paul Kasper in June 2019)

                 15-13.   Last Marines Out of the American Embassy in Saigon   (Received from David Pinto in March 2021.)  

                  15-14.  The First Days Under Communism   For years, the fear spread of a bloodbath in South Vietnam if the communists came to power. Undeterred, US journalist Jim Laurie was one of the few reporters to remain after the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, witnessing the first days of the liberated city under a new regime   (From Facebook, April 30, 2021.  Sign-in to Facebook may be required.)